Nutrition

The topic I chose for this week Blog is Nutrition/Malnutrition.

Nutrition is a very important part of development in the womb as after the child arrives to the world. It is very important for humans to get proper nutrition to have their nervous system and brain develop properly.  It saddens me that as a country our eating habits are out of control. Eating habits are high in sugar, fats, and super large portions. I am hoping that the Ms. Michelle Obama’s Healthy Habits for Kids Campaign takes off and we educate providers and families to change their nutrition habits. I feel if we can intervene with healthy habits we can cause less depression , anxiety, and other nervous disorders.

http://healthykidshealthyfuture.org/welcome.html

Here in the USA we have many programs to assist the children and mothers get proper nutrition. Here in Utah we have the Child Nutrition Program.

Utah's Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) seek to improve the nutritional well being of all Utah children so they may reach their full potential. Research shows that children who are well nourished learn and develop much better than those who lack adequate nutrition. The following programs are administered by the Child Nutrition Programs section of the Utah State Office of Education in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations:

After School Snack Program (ASSP) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Family Day Care Homes program (FDCH) Food Distribution Program (FDP) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)

National School Breakfast Program (NSBP) National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Special Milk Program (SMP) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

As I researched a couple of countries, I focused on Mexico.  I think because there are a large number of children coming from Mexico and I have always been intrigued with Mexico.  I want to go and teach the children there someday.

Below are statistics that I pulled from a site on the internet:

The most recent data shows a reduction in stunting, underweight and wasting; on the other hand, there is an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity. In Mexico, nearly 1.8 million children less than five years are stunted, approximately 800 000 children are underweight and 213 000 children are wasted (INSP, 1999). In all the surveys, a polarization of the distribution of the nutrition problems in the country was observed. There is a high prevalence of malnutrition in the south and in the rural areas, with an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the north and in urban areas.

Among school-aged children (5 to 11 years) studied in 1999, the highest prevalence rates observed are those of overweight, obesity and stunting, for both genders (INSP, 1999). Women of reproductive age showed a higher prevalence rate for overweight and obesity compared to previous surveys (SSA, 1988; INSP; 1999).

Access to food, and not food availability, is believed to be the main problem in Mexico. An estimated 44.7 million people live in poverty, that is to say half of the total population (CEPAL, 1999). The principal changes observed in the nutritional status of the population were reached through extension programs to provide health care, in particular primary health care interventions including immunization, oral rehydration therapy, education, and food and health programs, within the framework of government policy.

What can Mexico do to help families have better habits to intervene for a healthy community?